Lee Vining (formerly Leevining, Poverty Flat, and Lakeview) but when a post office was sought in 1928, it was learned that another town, Lakeview, California, already had the name. The name of Lee Vining was chosen in 1953.
|source 2 = National Weather Service
Economy
The economy of Lee Vining relies largely on tourism, since it is the closest town to the east entrance of Yosemite National Park, and is near other tourist destinations such as Mono Lake, the ghost town of Bodie, popular trout fishing destinations, and June Mountain and Mammoth Mountain ski areas, and the June Lake recreational area. Although off-season tourism has increased in recent years, most tourists visit in the summer months because State Route 120 through Yosemite is often closed otherwise because of heavy snowfall in the winter. Lee Vining has a year-round information center for visitors.
Sights
thumb|Lee Vining from the air, 2009. Visible are the town, CA-120, Lee Vining Canyon, the local airport, and part of Mono Lake.
Lee Vining is situated near the foot of Lee Vining Canyon. State Route 120 runs from town, through the canyon, up to Tioga Pass. Lee Vining Canyon is one of only two ice climbing venues in California. U.S. Route 395 also runs through the town, connecting to Los Angeles to the south, and Reno, Nevada to the north. Gus Hess Park commemorates an early miner in Lee Vining.
The town is the site of the Upside-Down House, a distinctive local landmark built by silent film actress Nellie Bly O'Bryan. Also located in the town is the Whoa Nellie Deli, which was once described by the San Francisco Chronicle as "a misplaced Fellini set carved into the edge of the Mono Basin, dust devils skipping around in the distance like extras on the floor of Owens Valley."
The Lee Vining Airport lies near the town. The ZIP Code is 93541. The community is inside area codes 442 and 760.
Demographics
Lee Vining first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census.
The census reported that 203 people (93.5% of the population) lived in households, 14 (6.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.
The age distribution was 46 people (21.2%) under the age of 18, 17 people (7.8%) aged 18 to 24, 52 people (24.0%) aged 25 to 44, 64 people (29.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 38 people (17.5%) who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 42.5years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males.
In the United States House of Representatives, Lee Vining is in .
Education
Lee Vining is in the Eastern Sierra Unified School District. An elementary school and a high school (Lee Vining High School) are located in Lee Vining.